This book develops the concept and theory of geographically embedded world economic hubs through a comparative analysis of developmental strengths of the four major bay areas in the world — the San Francisco Bay Area, the New York Bay Area, the Tokyo Bay Area, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The book discusses the outstanding socioeconomic features of these regions from the perspectives of sci-tech innovation, government-enterprise relations, talent cultivation, and financial market development and examines the embeddedness of innovation factors and resources in these four major bay areas. Such embeddedness emerges from the three open systems of science, education, and talent; enterprise; and finance. The book draws policy implications for cities and regions that seek value-added growth and transformation.

Dr. Dongni He is the Executive Director and Senior Research Fellow of GIG, who used to be the Vice President and Research Fellow of the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD). Her primary research interests include comparative studies of economic and social systems, China’s opening policies, science and technology policies and industry policies.

Dr. Yongnian Zheng is the Board Chairman of GIG, who also serves as the Presidential Chair Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), where he holds concurrent roles as Dean of its School of Public Policy and Founding Director of its Institute for International Affairs (Qianhai). He is also the Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute for Public Policy at South China University of Technology.